If any team has surprised basketball enthusiasts at the Paris Olympics, it must be the debutants on the grand stage – the German ladies. Making it all the way to the quarter-finals after two consecutive wins, their journey hit a snag in the final group game as they lost against the formidable Team USA. Nevertheless, there still must be positivity in the German dugout as their star player, Satou Sabally, continued her impressive run in Paris.

Things got really tense for the German team when Nyara Sabally, Satou’s sister, had to leave the court during their first game. Everyone was worried, for sure, but it seems Satou has decided to carry the team on her shoulders since then, and once again she gave it her all. She snatched the highest points for her team (15) against the USA and must be looking to continue performing like that when Germany takes to the court in the quarter-finals. But let’s discuss her performance in the Olympics so far!

So, Germany’s first-ever Olympic basketball game was against the reigning EuroBasket champs, Belgium. Germany won and Sabally stole the show. The Dallas Wings star dropped 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, that seemed like a trailer from Sabally after what she did in the next game. 

Germany sealed their quarter-final berth with the victory against Japan, a huge milestone, but what Sabally did there was just off the charts. She exploded for 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. That’s the eighth-highest score in Olympic history! That performance also took her to the second position on the Paris Olympics leaderboard in terms of points per game. Well, that’s all about her Olympic glory, but Sabally started making a name for Germany even earlier. Let’s take a look at that.

From Promising Prospect to Olympic Star: The Rise of Satou Sabally

Satou Sabally first showed up on the international scene in 2015, playing for Germany’s U16 team. She was already a beast, averaging 9 points and 13.2 rebounds. But it was in 2017 that she really blew up. She was named the MVP of the U18 Div B European Championship after putting up crazy numbers as she started hitting double-doubles with points and rebounds.

She even had a brilliant game in the semis against Great Britain with 21 points and 18 rebounds. Her versatility was another factor as she also had 6 steals and 4 blocks. Unfortunately, she got hurt in the U18 Div A Championship final the next year. But even with limited minutes, she was still putting up solid numbers averaging 9.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. It was clear then that she was a future star.

Sabally tried her hand at 3×3 basketball too, playing for Germany at the 2019 European Games. But it was in 2021 that she really achieved what any athlete dreams of, joining the senior German women’s national team for the EuroBasket qualifiers. Satou Sabally’s remarkable journey, from her early international appearances to her standout Olympic performance, has made her a defining figure for Germany. Her leadership and scoring prowess are sure to inspire her teammates when they will fight for their semi-final spot.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us in the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.